Somalia Reaffirms Commitment to AfCFTA as Foreign Minister Receives Secretary-General Wamkele Mene
Somalia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening continental economic integration and expanding its participation in Africa’s growing single market, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdisalam Ali, received the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, in Mogadishu.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and focused on the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, Somalia’s economic integration within the African continent, and opportunities to expand trade, investment and private-sector cooperation.
During the meeting, Secretary-General Wamkele Mene briefed Minister Abdisalam Ali on the progress being made in implementing the AfCFTA mandate and highlighted the agreement’s strategic contribution to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly efforts to promote intra-African trade, economic integration and sustainable development.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of creating a more integrated African market capable of facilitating the movement of goods and services, strengthening investment flows and opening new opportunities for businesses across the continent.
Minister Abdisalam Ali reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to the AfCFTA framework, noting that Somalia has ratified the agreement and remains committed to maximizing the economic opportunities it presents.
The Minister emphasized that Somalia’s participation in AfCFTA can play an important role in expanding the country’s access to African markets, attracting investment, supporting domestic production and strengthening the competitiveness of Somali businesses.
He further underscored the importance of ensuring that Somalia effectively positions itself to benefit from the continent-wide trade framework, particularly by strengthening trade infrastructure, improving the business environment and creating greater opportunities for Somali entrepreneurs and investors.
AfCFTA is one of the African Union’s flagship initiatives under Agenda 2063 and seeks to establish a unified continental market by reducing trade barriers and strengthening economic cooperation among African countries.
For Somalia, the agreement presents potential opportunities to expand exports, diversify markets, attract foreign direct investment and deepen economic relations with countries across Africa. It could also provide Somali businesses with access to a much larger consumer market while creating opportunities for partnerships in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, logistics, services and infrastructure.
The meeting comes as Somalia continues efforts to strengthen its economic engagement with the African continent and position itself for greater participation in regional and continental trade initiatives.
Both sides emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between Somalia and the AfCFTA Secretariat to support the effective implementation of the agreement and ensure that Somalia can fully benefit from the opportunities created by Africa’s expanding economic integration agenda.
The engagement between Minister Abdisalam Ali and Secretary-General Wamkele Mene reflects Somalia’s growing focus on economic diplomacy and its efforts to deepen trade and investment partnerships while contributing to the broader vision of a more integrated and economically connected Africa.
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